Try striking up a conversation while picking your child up from daycare or at child-centered community events. There may be local groups that meet in person, or you can look online. If you don’t personally know any other new fathers or fathers of young children: Talk to other dads or new parents – they are likely navigating similar changes and stresses. Most fathers find their expectations of parenthood to be very different than reality. This lifestyle change can be especially jarring if you’re a first-time parent. Overnight, you become much less in control of how you spend your time than you were before. There’s an adjustment period for everyone when a new member joins the family. Often the feelings of love and joy that a new baby brings are mixed with feelings of frustration and regret over losing your old life. The average age at which men become fathers has increased over time - from 27.4 years old in 1972, to 30.9 years old in 2015. about 40% are divorced, 38% never married, 15% separated, and 6% widowed. There are around 2 million single fathers in the U.S. Īpproximately 75 million men in the United Sates are fathers - that's about 60% of all men over age 15. Many don’t even know that men can experience pre- and postpartum depression and anxiety – around one in 10 fathers experience Paternal Postpartum Depression (PPPD) and up to 16% deal with an anxiety disorder during the weeks before and after birth. While they may notice changes in their mood and behavior, they might not recognize them as symptoms of a mental health condition. Even many health professionals educate moms on what to expect during the transition to motherhood, while the transition to fatherhood is primarily addressed in the context of supporting the mother and baby – if it is at all.īetween the lack of education about the challenges of fatherhood and societal pressures of masculinity, dads don’t always pay attention to their mental health after bringing a child into the family. Becoming a parent is a huge milestone for anyone, but when a new baby joins the family, it’s common for support systems to prioritize the mother and child.
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